Kate Cooper Serge Obituary: How Busy Philipps Honored Her Best Friend After Her Tragic Death

Kate Cooper Serge, a New Jersey-based educator, mother of three, and best friend of actress Busy Philipps, passed away on August 25, 2023, at the age of 44. She had been battling a mysterious illness for five months that left her in pain and unable to work. Her death has left a void in the lives of many who knew and loved her.

In this article, we will celebrate the life and legacy of Kate Cooper Serge, who was described by her friends as a “beautiful shining gigantic megawatt soul”. We will also explore her friendship with Busy Philipps, who shared an emotional tribute to her on Instagram. Finally, we will answer some frequently asked questions about Kate Cooper Serge and her death.

Who was Kate Cooper Serge?

Kate Cooper Serge was born on June 15, 1979, in New York City. She grew up in Westchester County, where she met Busy Philipps when they were both 14 years old. They became best friends and remained close throughout their lives.

Kate graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English and later earned a master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She worked as a teacher and administrator at several schools in New York and New Jersey, most recently as the director of curriculum and instruction at The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood.

Kate was passionate about education and loved working with children. She was known for her creativity, intelligence, humor, and kindness. She also had a keen interest in literature, art, music, and pop culture.

Kate married Larry Serge, a lawyer, in 2006. They had three children: Henry, 13, Alice, 11, and Leo, 8. Kate was a devoted mother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She also had a large circle of friends who adored her.

How did Kate Cooper Serge die?

Kate Cooper Serge died after a five-month-long illness that baffled doctors and caused her severe pain and discomfort. The exact cause of her death has not been disclosed publicly, but it is believed that she had a rare autoimmune disorder that affected her nervous system.

Kate first started experiencing symptoms in March 2023, when she felt numbness in her legs and feet. She went to several specialists who ran various tests but could not find a definitive diagnosis. She was prescribed steroids and painkillers to manage her condition, but they did not help much.

As her illness progressed, Kate lost the ability to walk and use her hands. She also developed vision problems and cognitive impairment. She was hospitalized several times and underwent multiple procedures, but none of them improved her situation.

Kate’s family and friends supported her throughout her ordeal. They visited her regularly, brought her food and flowers, and prayed for her recovery. They also raised money for her medical expenses through a GoFundMe campaign that collected over $200,000.

Despite her suffering, Kate remained optimistic and hopeful. She never complained or gave up. She always found reasons to smile and laugh. She also expressed gratitude for the love and care she received from everyone around her.

What did Busy Philipps say about Kate Cooper Serge?

Busy Philipps was devastated by the loss of her best friend of 30 years. She took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to Kate Cooper Serge on August 25, 2023. She posted a series of photos of them together from their teenage years to their recent times. She also wrote a long caption that read:

My most beautiful Kate girl, I will never understand this as long as I live. I love you I love you I love you. And now you’re no longer in pain. I have so many things to say about your beautiful shining gigantic megawatt soul (like your perfect smile) that radiated so brightly from within you that everyone who came in contact with you immediately felt it and fell in love with you but this is Instagram so I won’t say them all.

But truly thank God I was able to say them all to you in these past 5 months. Your grace, your wisdom, your taste, your talent, your creativity, your insane sense of humor, your laugh your laugh your laugh. The ease with which you would so clearly see things in a new way.

Your absolute fearlessness. The best mom to those beautiful beautiful kids and the best wife to one of the truly great ones, as we’ve all had the chance to witness in this, the worst of times. You are hands down the most truthful human I’ve literally ever known.

The greatest and most loyal and thoughtful friend, unconditionally. A friend who, in the midst of the most unfair battle any of us could imagine, was hugging and comforting me about something I was going through.

Busy’s post received over 300,000 likes and thousands of comments from her fans and fellow celebrities who offered their condolences and shared their memories of Kate. Some of the celebrities who commented included Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michelle Williams, Jenna Fischer, Mindy Kaling, and Selma Blair.

Que / Ans